“From our mutual past, I believe you kill for a cause, and not simply out of vengeance. You once saved my partner’s life while I was trying my hardest to put you in the grave, proving this to be true. I know your planned assassination today was for what you believe is a greater good. The problem is your greater good is at odds with Iran’s. They are using you.”
The Ghost said, “Get to the point, Mr. Pink, before I think you’re using this conversation for something other than talk.”
“Okay, okay. This is directly from the chat: the sender—someone with you—sent, ‘What about the final mission? Did the material get infiltrated?’ Now I don’t know what that ‘material’ is, but it sounds bad. The receiver then says, ‘I know the Pasdaran took control of it. It will depend on their routes and contacts that remain in Syria to get it into Jordan and then into Palestine.’ At first, I thought by saying Palestine, he meant Israel, but Jordan only borders Israel along the West Bank. Meaning he’s talking about an attack against the very people you’re supporting.”
The Ghost said, “You know nothing of our plans. If you did, I wouldn’t be in a plane with your secretary of state.”
“I know you already suspect this, and they’re keeping the true target from you. The sender said you were curious about the mission, wanting to know what was meant about your people being the ‘ultimate martyrs.’ They haven’t told you locations or targets, have they?”
Despite his discipline and distaste for the man speaking, Mr. Pink’s words were landing. The Ghost said, “I have no need to know that. I have my mission here, and I will succeed.”
“Well, luckily for us good guys, that attack in Palestine is predicated on you killing the Israeli prime minister. They’re worried that if you see what they have planned first, you won’t follow through with the mission. That tends to tell me they don’t think you’ll approve. They’re using you, Ghost.”
The Ghost said nothing, the silence dragging out. Mr. Pink broke it, saying, “Just so you know who your partner on that aircraft is, he described you as a hired gun who cares more about your people than the mission. The man in the US said, and this is a direct quote, ‘Keep him in control. Execute the mission, then terminate him.’?”
The Ghost said, “Goodbye, Mr. Pink,” and hung up the phone.
Omar said, “Who was that? What did he want?”
The Ghost turned to him and said, “It was an American Special Forces operative. He is tracking this aircraft and said he would blow it out of the sky without proof of life. Which I was luckily able to provide.”
Omar took the rebuke and said, “How did you know his name? Mr. Pink?”
“I recognized his voice. We have crossed paths before, a long, long time ago.” The Ghost turned off his phone, then pulled out the battery, saying, “He won’t call again.”
He put the phone pieces in his pocket, saying, “Omar, tell me, what is this final attack the Pasdaran have planned?”
“What do you mean? We’ve talked about this. It is the capstone event, after our attack and Sardar’s attack in the United States.”
“Yes, but what is the target?”
“I can’t tell you that. It’s better if you do not know—for security reasons—but our mission must be accomplished before the final one will be executed. That’s how the command set it up.”
“So you’ll tell them when this mission is complete?”
“No. They’re simply going to watch the news. It’s why we need to kill them now. The longer we wait, the more danger that the final attack will be discovered.”
“I’ve already told you we may need them alive, unless you’re ready to diealong with them. Do you hold the conviction Ramzi did? Are you willing to give your life for the final mission?”
Omar remained silent. The Ghost didn’t push the question, instead asking, “Can you contact Sardar?”
“No. I lost my computer, remember? I spoke with him before we executed in Buenos Aires. After that communication, we both went dark for security reasons. I couldn’t contact him now even if I had the computer. Why?”
“I want to talk to him. I want to know how his mission is progressing.”
“I can tell you he was meeting his contacts today, probably already has. He will conduct his mission tonight whether we succeed or not.”
Chapter 70
Sardar pulled his rental into an empty space at the end of the lot, away from other cars, grateful that the July heat and the fact that it was the middle of the week had kept the crowds away. He looked at his watch and saw he had twenty minutes until the designated meeting window. He shut off the engine and anxiously pulled up the latest news from Buenos Aires.
He already knew the assassination attempt had devolved into a hostage crisis, but had to read the breaking update twice before it sank in.They hijacked an aircraft, taking the Israeli prime minister and United States secretary of state? What on earth are they doing?
On the one hand, it was good news, as a hostage crisis would paralyze the Israeli command more than even an assassination. It had the added benefit of preventing a successor from assuming a leadership role while still eliminating the prime minister’s ability to make decisions. The addition of the United States secretary of state was a welcome bonus, as she had almost as much blood on her hands as the prime minister.
On the other hand, without their deaths the Buenos Aires mission would be a failure. All of the nuclear scientists and IRGC generals those two were responsible for murdering demanded vengeance. That was a priority. If he reported back to his higher command too soon they might initiate the final operation—and he was worried the Ghost would let the hostages go free when he realized the pain and destruction the attack would bring to the Palestinians in the West Bank. The man might be an expert assassin, but he clearly didn’t understand the sacrifice required to harm the LittleSatan. The martyrs created were a necessary evil, just as had happened in the Gaza Strip.
He decided to execute his mission first, then contact those above him with an update. Maybe the situation would have more clarity by then.
